AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Meadowlark Trail

12.6 mi · ▲ 333 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Meadowlark Trail is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Elm Creek Park Reserve near Champlin, MN. It climbs 333 ft. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 938 ft13.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.20052, -93.43529
Nearest town Champlin, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Meadowlark Trail

12.6 mi · ▲ 333 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Elevation 856–940 ft

Out & Back · Elm Creek Park Reserve

Trailhead: 45.20052, -93.43529

Weather Sep 22: Clear, high 64°F / low 44° · precip 1% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:01 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  4. 350 ftTurn right, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 0.9 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miBear right, heading SW.
  8. 350 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 1.4 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left onto Sumac Trail, heading S.
  12. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  13. 100 ftTurn left onto Meadowlark Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  15. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  18. 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
  19. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  20. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
  23. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  24. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  25. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  26. 250 ftSharp right onto Medicine Lake Regional Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.1 miReach Meadowlark Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  28. 0.1 miSharp left, heading S.
  29. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  30. 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  31. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  32. 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
  33. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  34. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  35. 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
  36. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  37. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  38. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  39. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  40. 450 ftBear right onto Meadowlark Trail, heading N.
  41. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftTurn left onto Sumac Trail, heading NE.
  43. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  44. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  46. 1.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  47. 300 ftBear left, heading N.
  48. 0.5 miBear left, heading N.
  49. 0.9 miTurn right, heading N.
  50. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  51. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  52. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  53. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/meadowlark-trail-out-back-20-km-6d13

Trail surface

59% paved23% grass14% dirt3% boardwalk1% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 64°F44°
Feels like44°Precip1%Wind5 mphUV5Humidity87%
Rained 0.6″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperature
65°40°
Sunrise 7:01 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:13 PM
Wed 65°45°
Thu 59°55° 50%
Fri 68°54°
Sat 64°58° 55%
Sun 69°60° 22%
Mon 74°58° 26%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.0 mi in (~128 min). Leave by 4:45 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Champlin, Minnesota